Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 263 Viewing a House
When Liu Yimin visited France, Gabriel García Márquez's books were already quite influential. I remember that the famous French writer Perec asked Liu Yimin with great interest if he had heard of magical realism.

Yan Jiayan kept asking Liu Yimin about his understanding of magical realism, and even asked if Liu Yimin had any related translations.

“During the summer vacation, people from a French publisher came to see me. They brought a few books, but unfortunately, they were all in French, and I couldn’t understand the specific content very well. They translated the overall story for me, but I estimate that a Chinese translation will be available soon,” Liu Yimin said to Yan Jiayan with a smile.

Yan Jiayan asked Liu Yimin if he could take a look at these books, since he didn't understand French, but there were people in the Chinese department who did.

These professors have an intense interest in studying Western literature, especially Western literature that has not yet appeared in China; this could be a way for them to make a name for themselves.

Their names may still be mentioned when future scholars or people talk about them.

"I'll bring it to you when I come to Yenching University again!"

"No, wait until after class this afternoon, I'll go to your house with you." Yan Jiayan didn't want to wait a moment longer.

"I'll bring it to you as soon as I get back today!"

"Yimin, thank you for your help!" Yan Jiayan said happily, "After hearing your explanation, this book seems a bit difficult to read?"

"It's definitely no problem for you. Professor Yan, do you know where the most difficult part of reading this novel is for most Chinese readers?"

"Language habits?"

"No, they are names that are indistinguishable unless you look closely."

Liu Yimin recalled when he first read "One Hundred Years of Solitude," the names of several generations of characters were just a few words, which made the reader scratch his head in frustration.

"Hahaha, then I'd like to see what they've got!"

If I give the French translation of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" to the Chinese Department, will the pirated Chinese translations start from the Chinese Department?

It's worth noting that the Chinese pirated copy of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" almost infuriated Márquez, prompting him to launch a direct attack and causing a group of Chinese scholars to lose face.

After discussing the thesis, Yan Jiayan inquired about Liu Yimin's lesson preparation. Liu Yimin produced his lesson plan, which included the title of the class: "The Impact of Western Literary Thought on Indigenous Literary Thought, and the Perseverance and Absorption of Indigenous Literature!"

After reading it, Yan Jiayan had lost faith in Teacher Chen. Regardless of how well Liu Yimin taught the content, the title alone was enough to attract students into the classroom.

I thought I should find Teacher Chen later and stagger their lecture times so that everyone could save face.

Yan Jiayan tapped the table and said worriedly, "You've chosen a very ambitious title. Don't let it become too much to tell!"

"Don't worry, Professor Yan, if I dare to write it, I can certainly teach it. Look how carefully I prepared my lesson plan; it's two whole pages long!"

Yan Jiayan snorted: "You call this putting in effort? There aren't many words on these two pages!"

Liu Yimin's writing mainly consisted of lecture headings and subheadings, interspersed with some keywords.

Yan Jiayan handed Liu Yimin a copy of his old lecture notes and told him to take it back for reference.

As Liu Yimin was about to leave, Yan Jiayan asked again, "Why don't you ask how the house search is going?"

"If you find out, you'll definitely tell me," Liu Yimin said with a smile. "Could it be that you've found it?"

"Not yet, but we'll have news soon. We shouldn't have to wait for you to send the book!"

Liu Yimin cheerfully waved goodbye to Yan Jiayan and left his office. He encountered other professors on the way and stopped to chat for a few minutes.

From now on, these will all be my colleagues, so I need to build good relationships with them first!

"Yimin, teach well, I'll come and listen in!" Wu Zuxiang said to Liu Yimin with a smile.

"Thank you!"

"Haha, don't be so quick to thank me. If you don't explain it well, I'll start scolding you right here and now!" Wu Zuxiang said, laughing as he walked back to his office.

After Liu Yimin left, Yan Jiayan immediately went to find Teacher Chen and told him the topic of Liu Yimin's lecture.

"Professor Chen, you are a student I've watched grow up in the Chinese Department, just like Yimin. The department is thinking of dividing your lectures into morning and afternoon sessions. What do you think?" Yan Jiayan took a sip of tea, trying his best not to let Professor Chen see any other meaning in his words.

However, Professor Chen understood. He looked at Liu Yimin's question, smiled, and said, "Let's all do it in the morning. Even if we lose, we'll accept it willingly. I'd be happy if Yenching University's Chinese Department could produce another master."

Even if I lose, it doesn't necessarily mean my teaching ability is inferior to Yimin's. There are always winners and losers. A teacher isn't necessarily better than a student, and a student isn't necessarily worse than a teacher. That just proves that Yimin truly deserves the associate professor position!

Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Yan Jiayan said, "Then you should prepare well. You've covered too much literature in seventeen years. You can try a different topic."

Finally, the deadline was set for the morning of October 30th. On October 15th, the two of them jointly submitted their lecture topics, which were then posted in the Chinese Department.

The afternoon classes were nothing new, but the students listened very attentively. For most students, each class was one they would miss.

They also worry about job assignments, but most of their concerns are not about whether they will get a good job, but rather about choosing between several companies.

Liu Zhenyun has decided to go to the Farmers' Daily, and he jokingly says that since he comes from a farming background, he should work at the Farmers' Daily.

Li Xueqin wants to apply to be a graduate student under Professor Feng Qiyong at Renmin University. Besides writing his thesis, he is frantically preparing for the exam.

After class, Zhang Manling stopped him and told him that she had finished writing her novel and submitted it to "Yanjing Literature and Art".

I've already received the royalties; I need to treat Liu Yimin to dinner.

Liu Yimin offered his congratulations and said with a smile, "You already treated me to a meal when I came out of Yanjing Literature last time!"

“That doesn’t count, that’s a thank you, this is a celebration!” Zhang Manling said happily.

Upon hearing that it was time to eat, Liu Zhenyun immediately smiled and said, "It's time to celebrate with Sister Manling!"

Zhang Manling and Liu Zhenyun pulled Liu Yimin outside, with Li Xueqin and Chen Dazhi following along. On the way, they encountered Li Lanyong. With so many people in the group, Zhang Manling was going to have to spend a lot of money.

“This is a novella. I can afford to treat you to several meals. Don’t be shy. Order whatever you want. Yimin, what would you like to eat?” Zhang Manling asked with a smile.

"I'll just have a plate of stir-fried pork with chili peppers!" Liu Yimin said.

Everyone started talking about Zhang Manling's novel. As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding," and Liu Zhenyun and the others were particularly enthusiastic in praising it.

Zhang Manling was a little embarrassed by the praise, so she quickly said, "My novels are far inferior to Yimin's. My short story 'The Button' received so much support from official media, including the People's Daily!"

Liu Zhenyun glanced at Liu Yimin, then looked at Zhang Manling and said casually, "Yimin has heard too much flattery. Ordinary flattery doesn't work on him anymore. It's different with you. This is Lan Yong. What's that term you used before?" "Marginal effect!"

"Yes, the marginal benefits are different. Flattery has a low cost and a high return. Look at this meal that only costs a dozen yuan!"

Zhang Manling was amused by Liu Zhenyun. She laughed and scolded him, saying that if he said a few more words, she would send him to eat alone on the street.

During the meal, several people brought up the topic of their thesis, and after finishing their conversation, they left the Long March canteen.

Liu Yimin spoke a few words to Li Lanyong alone, then rode his bicycle back to the courtyard.

When they returned to the courtyard house, Zhu Lin was cooking. Zhu Lin asked Liu Yimin if he wanted to eat!

Liu Yimin smiled and shook his head. He had just finished eating, so how could he be hungry?

Zhu Lin joked, "Yeah, if you've eaten your fill outside, why would you eat when you get back!"

Her words made Liu Yimin very embarrassed. While she was eating, Liu Yimin asked how the rehearsal was going.

"Teacher Lan even praised me today. In just over a month, the crew has already practiced quite well," Zhu Lin said proudly.

"The actors are all pretty obedient, aren't they?"

"They were very obedient, mainly because I was right!"

After Zhu Lin left, Liu Yimin found Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and a copy of "Love in the Time of Cholera," intending to give them to Yan Jiayan the next day.

While I'm at it, I'll go check out the apartments at the Overseas Chinese Apartments.

Liu Yimin's method of posting flyers did have some effect, but the effect was too short-lived. He only received one phone call, and the other party was just trying to find out the price.

It's estimated that before anyone else could see it, the flyer would have vanished due to various human or non-human causes.

The next day, early in the morning, Liu Yimin went to Yenching University and found Yan Jiayan.

After staring blankly at the French books for a while, Yan Jiayan said to Liu Yimin, "Take these two books to Professor Yang Hui at Yandong Garden. I'll come to Yandong Garden to find you after my class."

Liu Yimin nodded. Yan Jiayan from the Overseas Chinese Apartments didn't say anything, so Liu Yimin didn't ask. When they arrived at Yandong Garden, Yang Hui was sitting in the courtyard of the villa, basking in the sun.

The yard was planted with many flowers and plants, and his wife loved them very much and took good care of them.

Seeing Liu Yimin approach, Yang Hui smiled and said, "Did you bring the books that Xiao Yan asked you to bring?"

"Take a look!"

Yang Hui speaks French and has even translated works by Romain Rolland. When Romain Rolland is mentioned, most people will think of his quote, "There is only one heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it."

Yang Hui's wife smiled, washed an apple, and handed it to Liu Yimin. Yang Hui, who was standing next to her, picked up a book and began to read it attentively.

When Yan Jiayan finished class and arrived at Yandong Garden, Yang Hui didn't say a word during the time he was there, watching intently.

Yan Jiayan asked Yang Hui with a smile what he thought, and Yang Hui stroked his beard and said, "I didn't quite understand it!"

Yan Jiayan gave an awkward smile, told him to look around some more, and then left Yandong Garden with Liu Yimin.

"There are two apartments, one is 120 square meters and the other is 160 square meters. Which one would you like to see?"

"I think it's 160!"

"Let me tell you in advance, it's very expensive!" Yan Jiayan said with a smile.

"Teacher, don't worry!"

“Okay, let’s go take a look. This house belongs to an overseas Chinese professor. He has a residence in Yannan Garden, and this house was bought for his son. Unfortunately, his son went to Southeast Asia after living there for a month. He came back a few times and stayed in Yannan Garden. It can be said to be a new house, but no one has lived there for a long time. The old couple will occasionally go there to clean it.”

Liu Yimin was overjoyed. This kind of house was the best. If he couldn't buy a new house, a relatively new one would be fine too!

Upon arriving at Yan Nan Garden, we picked up this overseas Chinese professor. This professor, a Malay, taught science and engineering and had gray hair. He had been teaching in Malaysia for over forty years.

The other person was very talkative and kept chatting with Liu Yimin about literature and Liu Yimin's works. The most discussed topic was "The Flames of War in Beiping," and he talked about his experiences in Beiping.

"This novel has a strong old Beijing flavor; reading it unconsciously reminded me of the past. Literature influences people's thoughts, while technology influences material things; both are indispensable! I am a second-generation Southeast Asian Chinese. My father went to sea in a wooden boat, and at first, it was very difficult, but he finally made a name for himself, which gave me the opportunity to go to school."

The old professor recalled the arduous journey of his ancestors and himself, which is another history of the enthusiastic patriotism of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.

After completing his studies, he returned to his motherland, intending to teach more young people and serve the country through science.

"Professor Liang, looking back over the decades, the path you've walked has truly been extraordinary!"

“Yimin, you’re right. I’ve witnessed the country go from chaos to order, and I truly hope that things like that never happen again.”

Upon arriving at the Overseas Chinese Apartment, Professor Liang led Liu Yimin to the fourth floor of the North Building. Inside, a layer of dust had settled on the furniture, though it wasn't thick, suggesting that cleaning would take about two months.

Upon opening the door, you'll see sunlight flooding the entire living room. The Overseas Chinese Apartments feature large balconies, as wide as the living room, providing excellent natural light from multiple angles.

The width and depth of the entrance door are designed to be very comfortable, completely different from the Soviet-style design, making it a proper Western apartment.

As the trees on the lower floors grow taller, the sunlight is easily blocked, so the fourth floor has the best lighting.

However, the four-story house and the roof face the sun directly, so it gets extremely hot in the summer. It would be difficult to live without air conditioning, and we would have to buy several more air conditioners.

Air conditioners were first manufactured in China in the 1960s. In fact, not only in rural areas, but many people in cities have never even heard of this novelty.

The house has five bedrooms and one living room, with the dining room and living room combined. There are two bathrooms, and the other party installed a bathtub for showering, which Liu Yimin is not used to. The floor is imported wood flooring.

And with radiators, you won't have to smell gas anymore when you live here in winter.

Yan Jiayan sighed, "This house is so comfortable to live in." Liu Yimin joked, "Professor Yan, aren't the villas at the university more comfortable than this? They even have gardens!"

"Haha, each has its own merits!"

The other party also did some minor renovations, but not major ones. If we don't consider that the exterior will look dilapidated as it ages, the apartment layout will not be outdated for at least twenty years.

(End of this chapter)